Where to go after Michael Connelly?

[Ann in Arlington]

I've read them all so far...they cant really be pigeonholed into any genre I normally read but I am intrigued by the smooth writing style and cultural differences in their adventures.

I recommend them....I think "rhythm & charm" are good descriptors.

And, under the heading of 'different strokes'. . . . . .I read the first one and it basically put me to sleep.  It was a chore to get through.


But. . . back to Michael Connelly. . . .have you looked at www.literature-map.com. . . . .

[MariaESchneider]

And, under the heading of 'different strokes'. . . . . .I read the first one and it basically put me to sleep.  It was a chore to get through.


But. . . back to Michael Connelly. . . .have you looked at www.literature-map.com. . . . .

I couldn't even finish the first one so you're one up on me...!

Also--not sure he is on Kindle, and he writes noir so it will be dark:  Ken Bruen.

[Lursa (aka 9MMare)]

And, under the heading of 'different strokes'. . . . . .I read the first one and it basically put me to sleep.  It was a chore to get through.


But. . . back to Michael Connelly. . . .have you looked at www.literature-map.com. . . . .

And they are a long way from Michael Connelly too, which is one reason I didnt recommend them, lol.

I dont know what it is about them....I think it is the view into the culture....and the fact that they are light and fast reads (with some real pearls of wisdom mixed in.) They are a long way from my preferred genres too...which have loads of forensic details or societies after the destruction of the modern world!

[Meemo]

And they are a long way from Michael Connelly too, which is one reason I didnt recommend them, lol.

I dont know what it is about them....I think it is the view into the culture....and the fact that they are light and fast reads (with some real pearls of wisdom mixed in.) They are a long way from my preferred genres too...which have loads of forensic details or societies after the destruction of the modern world!

Same with me - they're "mysteries", but nothing particularly heavy or dark, yet not exactly cozies either - a nice change of pace occasionally.  But I can see how other folks might not be taken with them - like I said, the sample left me cold. 

(It's a bit like watching British TV when you're used to American shows.)

[nmg222]

Having read everything by Connelly and being a big series reader, I offer Daniel Silva's 'Gabriel Allon' series which begins with 'The Kill Artist'.  I have about a dozen series going and no one comes close to the writing and storytelling of Silva.  In my opinion, easily the best series on the market.

[Neekeebee]

Adding a second vote for Silva's Gabriel Allon series! 

I also love Connelly's books and am saving a couple of them for reading slumps.  Also, I would recommend giving Sue Grafton another try: I read B thru E before A is for Alibi and thought "A" was the weakest by far.

N

[Adele Ward]

Joe Stein's crime novels are realistic, gritty but also uplifting. He seems like a bit of a loser trying to hold on to the relationship he finally managed to get, but he's so lovable. And he's not a drinker. Martina Cole is also supposed to be good but I haven't read her. I like the London settings in these.

[fancynancy]

Postscript: 

I can't remember how I chose it after all of your recommendations (price?), but I wound up reading a book by Ruth Francisco.  It was pretty good and well-written, and most importantly, it grabbed me from the first sentence.  I am now trying to read a Robert Crais book that won awards and nominations, but I am having a tough time getting through the first few pages!  The dialogue is trying way too hard and it doesn't ring true. But I will try to slog through the first chapter.  I have reduced mental capacity due to the pain meds I'm taking, but that did not interfere with my ability to read Francisco, and I was taking even more stuff then. 

I think next up I have a Lee Childs.  Thanks much for the recommendations!

[Kimberly Llewellyn]

Have you tried any of Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro series?  A Drink Before The War is the first.

I agree. Dennis a good one to try.

Also, for Florida kitsch in a well written tale, you might wanna try Carl Hiassen. http://www.carlhiaasen.com/index.shtml

Oh, gosh, don't forget James Rollins. http://www.jamesrollins.com/

[hsuthard]

Michael Connelly is my second favorite writer, I love his writing. And I was going to suggest several of the names mentioned here: Lee Child, John Sanford, Harlen Coben, Nevada Barr, Tony Hillerman, Alexander McCall Smith. But I didn't see my number one favorite, with a character I think of as most like Bosch, Louise Penny. Her Inspector Gamache from Canada, is so wonderful, she is the only writer I look forward to more than Connelly.

Still Life is the first in the series, and I think there are seven books now in the series. Hope your recuperation goes well!

[PAWilson]

my girlfriend likes Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti mysteries, but I think that's just because she'll read anything about Venice.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3ADonna+Leon&keywords=Donna+Leon&ie=UTF8&qid=1325447161&sr=1-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B000APJKYC

I'd recommend these too, but not to read all in a row. I think a break in series reading helps refresh the reader's interest and takes away the annoyance at all the idiosyncrasys.

I'd suggest you look into Ruth Downie's Medicus series.

[Arclight]

Author Michael McGarrity's "Kevin Kerney Series"

[url]http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/michael-mcgarrity/[/url

[Lursa (aka 9MMare)]

Author Michael McGarrity's "Kevin Kerney Series"

[url]http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/michael-mcgarrity/[/url

He looks very interesting. Unfortunately all Kindle versions are expensive.

Can you tell me the first in the Kevin Kerney series? I looked but didnt see it.

I'll add it to my Kindle Price tracker.

Thanks for the recommendation, I really liked Tony Hillerman.

[Meemo]

Tularosa, the book mentioned, is the first in the series.  If you check the link arclight posted, there's a list of the books in the series in order. 

And that website, http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk, is a fabulous resource for checking authors, books and particularly the order of books in a series.  I use it a lot.

[Lursa (aka 9MMare)]

Tularosa, the book mentioned, is the first in the series.  If you check the link arclight posted, there's a list of the books in the series in order. 

And that website, http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk, is a fabulous resource for checking authors, books and particularly the order of books in a series.  I use it a lot.

Thanks very much!

[fancynancy]

Michael Connelly is my second favorite writer, I love his writing. And I was going to suggest several of the names mentioned here: Lee Child, John Sanford, Harlen Coben, Nevada Barr, Tony Hillerman, Alexander McCall Smith. But I didn't see my number one favorite, with a character I think of as most like Bosch, Louise Penny. Her Inspector Gamache from Canada, is so wonderful, she is the only writer I look forward to more than Connelly.

Still Life is the first in the series, and I think there are seven books now in the series. Hope your recuperation goes well!

Thanks!  Still Life was $2.99 in the Kindle edition, so I one-clicked it.  Will report back.

[bordercollielady]

Having read everything by Connelly and being a big series reader, I offer Daniel Silva's 'Gabriel Allon' series which begins with 'The Kill Artist'.  I have about a dozen series going and no one comes close to the writing and storytelling of Silva.  In my opinion, easily the best series on the market.

I loved "The Kill Artist"..  been reading Brad Thor lately and had forgotten about Silva..  Must download more Silva..

[bordercollielady]

I couldn't even finish the first one so you're one up on me...!

I finished it but it was painful..  so interesting how authors appeal to different readers so differently.

[ToniD]

As a Michael Connelly fan, I feel your pain. 

I'll chime in with the recommendations for Dennis Lehane, James Lee Burke, and Nevada Barr.

And I'll add Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series.

[Gayle]

I've enjoyed books by J.A. jance...especially the J.P. Beaumont series and the JoAnna Brady series. I don't much care for the others. I also enjoy Lee Childs, James Rollins, Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, David Baldacci to name a few.

[J R McLemore]

Dennis Lehane may be a good bet.

If you want some good hard-boiled crime, I'd suggest Victor Gischler's books. Also, Charlie Huston has a trilogy about a character named Hank Thompson which are really good. David Sweirczynsky (hope I spelled that right) has some good books, too.

[Sean Patrick Reardon]

Adrian McKinty, Stuart Neville, or John Connolly might be a worthy replacement

[Polly Iyer]

I agree with JR. I've read everything Dennis Lehane has written and loved them all except his book of short stories. His writing is superb. One of the best crime fiction writers around. I know some people who love George Pelacanos for hard-boiled. I've only read one, and there was a lot of street dialect which I found hard to read. Laura Lippman is another good writer of crime fictions. Yes, women can write tough, too.

[docnoir]

[quote author=J If you want some good hard-boiled crime, I'd suggest Victor Gischler's books. Also, Charlie Huston has a trilogy about a character named Hank Thompson which are really good. David Sweirczynsky (hope I spelled that right) has some good books, too.
[/quote]

Ha. A bit off it's actually *Duane* Swierczynski. But yes indeed, good stuff. SEVERANCE PACKAGE is a riot.

Victor's a friend of mine, and I think his best bets on the crime side would be GUN MONKEYS and PISTOL POETS.

Another one of our bunch: Sean Doolittle. THE CLEAN-UP is a master class on slow-burn thrillers.

[fancynancy]

Also, if you use Fantastic Fiction, they list most mainstream authors with all the books they've written -- series in order and with alternate titles, which is also nice.  Anyway, at the bottom, they also link to books that writer recommends.  Here's the page for Michael Connelly:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/michael-connelly/


He has a LOT of them. . . .

He does have a lot!  Confusing...